Leadmore Podcast

Erin Healy and Kelly Sullivan are something rare in the world of South Dakota state politics—young, Democratic women. While one always saw herself running for public office someday, the other never would have imagined it. Both are leaders for their communities and for the state in Pierre. In this episode, we discuss what it’s like running for office in 2020, how to collaborate with leaders you may disagree with, and what Erin and Kelly hope for the future of South Dakota.-----Connect with Joh...

Liz Giorgi grew up wanting to be the next Barbara Walters. She ended up as a software CEO. Liz remembers being exposed to entrepreneurship from her grandfather, who ran a canoe outfitter in northern Minnesota, but never saw herself doing it. Today, Liz is the CEO of Soona, a fast casual content studio making waves in the photography and videography space. In this episode, Liz shares how they rebuilt Soona almost overnight during the pandemic, how business can be used for good, and how to know...

Every speech, every all-hands meeting, and every 1-on-1 is an opportunity for a leader to influence their audience, be it internal or external. After trying more than 100 court cases, Robbie Crabtree knows a thing or two about influencing an audience. In this episode, Robbie explains how leaders can make an impact through what he calls “performative speaking.” He also shares his all-time favorite speaker and the one speaking tip everyone should know.

Most people put limits on what they believe is possible. Brett Hagler wants to challenge that thinking. He’s learned the best way to live is to do things that are rare. Most people aren’t willing to be bold, and boldness is free. In this episode, we learn how Brett and his team at New Story are boldly tackling one of the world’s biggest problems: housing. Brett explains New Story’s values and mission, how non-profits can innovate in today’s world, and the one thing all leaders need to embrace.

Many people have an idea to start a business, but very few actually do it. After years of balancing her day job and her side hustle, Maddie Peschong finally decided to take the leap, and it has changed her life. Maddie runs a photography studio, podcast, coaching program, and online courses; she’s also a wife and a mother of three. In this episode, we discuss when she knew it was time to take that leap, how to be your authentic self online, and her mission to inspire other women to become ent...

Laurel Farrer was working remotely before it was cool. With over a decade of experience helping organizations transition to remote work, Laurel and her team at Distribute Consulting are ready to lead the world into the future of work. In March, her business leads grew by more than 6,000%, and today she helps companies like Microsoft, Slack, and Zoom do remote work better. In this episode, you’ll hear about how leaders need to lead their remote teams, what the future of remote work looks like,...

Sustaining good leadership over the long term means passing the baton to the next generation when the time comes. Helping organizations navigate this challenge is Brent Beshore’s specialty. Brent and his team at Permanent Equity are helping great, multi-generation companies pass that baton to create decades-long business success. In this episode, Brent shares his advice on how to spot upcoming leaders and position yourself for a leadership position in your company.

Paul TenHaken never thought he would become an entrepreneur, but he became the founder and CEO of Click Rain, a 35-person digital marketing agency. He also doesn’t consider himself a politician, but he became the mayor of South Dakota’s largest city. In this episode, we discuss Paul’s leadership journey, the importance of leading with empathy, and the challenges of being mayor during one of the most difficult years of our lifetimes.

Leadership requires dedication. John Stiegelmeier has been the head football coach at South Dakota State University for 24 seasons—that’s dedication. For Coach Stig (or “Holy Nutmeg” as he’s known on Twitter) it’s always been about more than football. In this episode, we dive into Coach Stig’s culture of leadership at SDSU, what he said to his players when the fall season was cancelled due to COVID-19, and how we can turn the negativity around us into a positive opportunity.

Some leaders follow a straight and narrow path while others journey along a winding road. David Whitesock’s leadership journey is full of twists and turns. A recovering addict who now devotes his time and energy to helping those experiencing addiction, David was once a radio DJ and an early podcast entrepreneur. He also wrote his master’s thesis on Thomas Jefferson and was a Bush Fellow. In this episode, David discusses how leaders can spot those experiencing addiction, how to help them, and ...